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H. 4886

STATUS INFORMATION

Concurrent Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Ceips, Emory, J.M. Neal, J.H. Neal, McLeod, Agnew, Bailey, Bales, Battle, J. Brown, Funderburk, Harvin, Miller, Neilson, Ott, Rice, Scott, Whitmire and Young
Document Path: l:\council\bills\agm\18251sd06.doc

Introduced in the House on March 23, 2006
Introduced in the Senate on March 23, 2006
Currently residing in the Senate

Summary: American Revolutionary War battle flags

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   3/23/2006  House   Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-23
   3/23/2006  House   Roll call Yeas-109  Nays-0 HJ-26
   3/23/2006  Senate  Introduced, placed on calendar without reference SJ-5
   3/24/2006          Scrivener's error corrected

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

3/23/2006
3/23/2006-A
3/24/2006

INTRODUCED

March 23, 2006

H. 4886

Introduced by Reps. Ceips, Emory, J.M. Neal, J.H. Neal, McLeod, Agnew, Bailey, Bales, Battle, J. Brown, Funderburk, Harvin, Miller, Neilson, Ott, Rice, Scott, Whitmire and Young

S. Printed 3/23/06--S.    [SEC 3/24/06 2:21 PM]

Read the first time March 23, 2006.

TO REQUEST THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD FROM ITS RESERVE FUNDS TO IMMEDIATELY PROVIDE THE STATE MUSEUM WITH SUFFICIENT FUNDING TO BUY OR OTHERWISE RECLAIM THREE BATTLE FLAGS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR CAPTURED BY LIEUTENANT COLONEL BANASTRE TARLETON DURING THE BATTLE OF THE WAXHAWS (ALSO KNOWN AS BUFORD'S MASSACRE) IN LANCASTER COUNTY ON MAY 29, 1780, AND TO REQUEST THE STATE MUSEUM TO ALSO SEEK PRIVATE FUNDING AND DONATIONS TO HELP SECURE THESE IMPORTANT ARTIFACTS.

Whereas, three battle flags were captured by Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton during the Battle of the Waxhaws (also known as Buford's Massacre) in Lancaster County, South Carolina, on May 29, 1780; and

Whereas, over one hundred American soldiers from the Second and Third Virginia Regiments under the command of Colonel Abraham Buford were killed by British troops after the Americans surrendered; and

Whereas, the action of the British troops, whether ordered by Colonel Tarleton or as a result of retaliation by the British troops who mistakenly believed their commander was killed during battle, inflicted an average of sixteen saber and bayonet wounds on each of the one hundred thirteen dead and one hundred fifty wounded American soldiers; and

Whereas, the Battle of Waxhaws became a rallying cry for the Patriot cause, and it ruined British efforts to regain support from people who were not sure what side of the Revolution they were on; and

Whereas, after the battle, the term "Tarleton's Quarter" came to epitomize the unprovoked slaughter of surrendered combatants; and

Whereas, the flags have descended in the long line of Tarleton's family and have been hung as trophies in the descendants' homes for most of the past two hundred twenty-six years. Currently the banners are owned by Captain Christopher Tarleton Fagan, the great-great-great-great nephew of Colonel Tarleton; and

Whereas, the flags are offered at auction at Sotheby's in New York on "Flag Day", June 14, 2006, and are expected to cost several million dollars; and

Whereas, Revolutionary War battle flags are extremely rare, and South Carolina is fortunate to jointly own through its State Museum with the Smithsonian Institution the regimental colors of the Second Regiment, South Carolina Line, Continental Establishment; and

Whereas, the main battle flag of Buford's Regiment reflects a significant connection to South Carolina. It is made of gold silk with a painted image of a beaver gnawing a palmetto tree with the motto "Perseovrando" underneath and a blue canton of thirteen stars; and

Whereas, significant historical artifacts of this importance should be housed by a major public institution capable of providing appropriate physical and environmental security; and

Whereas, artifacts of this significance also should be available for public exhibition to educate and enhance for all citizens the sacrifice of many soldiers to insure the establishment and survival of this nation. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly, by this resolution, request the State Budget and Control Board from its reserve funds to immediately provide the State Museum with sufficient funding to buy or otherwise reclaim three battle flags of the American Revolutionary War captured by Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton during the Battle of the Waxhaws (also known as Buford's Massacre) in Lancaster County on May 29, 1780, and to request that the State Museum also seek private funding and donations to help secure these important artifacts.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the State Budget and Control Board and the State Museum.

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